Blog //Page 1

Just days from the start of a brand new F1 season, it has become unquestionably clear that the two of us are not remotely ready for race one. Wildly unprepared and massively behind schedule, I cannot foresee any way we could competently cover the opening Grand Prix. It's time to take a break.

In preparation the 2015 season, we've spent a little time tweaking our behind-the-scenes website code. One subtle but important change made since last year relates to the way we're handling news and podcast feeds. Admittedly the finer detail of processing syndication updates is about the last thing most F1 fans will want to read about less than a week before the first track action of the year, but timing was never our strong point.

As well as innovating on the vehicles themselves, F1 teams also help drive innovation in high performance computing and data analysis, with McLaren, for example, recently tying up a deal to provide predictive analytics expertise to KPMG. This side of the sport, however, and its potential for helping promote engagement in the STEM subject areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is often under-reported.

Arguably one of the biggest shocks during the past few months of Formula One downtime was unrelated to anything a driver or a team has said or done. Back in February the F1 editor of one of motosport's biggest online brands dropped a media bombshell and announced he would be leaving Autosport in May. Jonathan Noble decided to follow several of his colleagues to rival website Motorsport.com.

Two weeks of testing so far have given us a few signs of what the coming year might be like. Mercedes are still strong, if not untouchable. Ferrari have improved, as have Sauber who have shown surprising pace. McLaren are very much on the back foot, and are now dealing with the repercussions from Fernando Alonso's accident last week as well. The Spaniard will sit out this final week, with Kevin Magnussen taking his place.

Formula 1 seems to be in a bit of a dodgy place right now. A lot of people are talking of crisis, the teams are looking to the future way ahead instead of trying to support those struggling in the current and the ongoing discussions of costs, changes and rules continues to jump back and forth as always. Yet what seems to have sparked quite a response as of late is the news that drivers will no longer be able to switch helmet designs from race to race during the season - a decision that is so supposedly minor for so many people yet has created a heck of a response.

The 2015 season is imminent, folks. Another 20 or so races, another bout of various controversies, poor strategy calls, iffy steward decisions probably some 'incidents' involving car number 13. And of course, Fantasy Grand Prix - the game where you get the chance to own your F1 team, hire some drivers, pick some teams and think of a name. You have to keep in budget too - you can't do a Caterham.

Ask anyone what Formula One is and they will no doubt reply with the almost clichéd response; “Formula One is the only racing series in which the best drivers in the world, with the best cars go head to head on the best tracks.” However, the simple fact is that it is no longer the case. The cars are certainly the finest examples of automotive engineering to date, there is no disputing that. The tracks are also some of the most testing environments for both man and machine. People will argue that they are a bit boring, but I have an irrational soft spot for them

With four days of testing already completed, teams have a fair idea of what challenges they are facing over the final two weeks. Moving on from Jerez, drivers will get to grips with the Barcelona circuit - a track they should know well, and will be racing on later in the year. Force India will be participating this week, after skipping the Jerez action, but they've confirmed they will be using an older version of their car.

The 2015 Formula One season might seem, on the surface, an extension of 2014, settling in after a year of upheavel. But delve only slightly further and you'll find a wealth of intriguing driver movements, fascinating new partnerships, and a whole lot of development still to be done. With a twenty stop calendar, nine teams and eighteen drivers to keep track of, the Guide to the 2015 Grand Prix Season becomes the ultimate F1 fan's resource.

Welcome to F1 Circuits Past and Present, the Sidepodcast mini series that takes a closer look at tracks that have hosted the pinnacle of motorsport across the years. This is the final episode, and so to finish we’re narrowing our gaze at an absolutely classic track, one that really lifts the spirits and makes each race it hosts an event to behold.

Hello and welcome to the sixth episode of F1 Circuits Past and Present, a second series of the miniseries brought to you by Sidepodcast. We’ve covered old and new, with a focus on the old, but now it’s time to look at the returning. Formula One’s calendar for 2015 features a race that was previously on the calendar, and is making a comeback.

You’re listening to the Sidepodcast mini series F1 Circuits Past and Present, a second series that looks closely at tracks that have hosted the sport across the years. This is the fifth episode, and time to look at a classic track that has made an impressive name for itself despite featuring on the calendar on only two occasions.

This is F1 Circuits Past and Present from Sidepodcast, a second series of the mini series that looks at race tracks you’ve known and loved across the history of Formula One. Today’s fourth episode zooms right back to the very first championship season of the sport, with a classic race track close to the hearts of many.

We were hoping, with McLaren free from Mercedes (and title sponsors!) that it would jazz up its livery: perhaps its rekindled relationship with Honda would bring back its Marlboro colours; after all, Lotus were all too happy to use completely irrelevant cigarette branding for its renaissance! Some of us even hoped it would return to its roots - the dazzling orange of the Brucey days. But no: with Dennis the entirely Unmenaced in charge we got grey. And black.

Welcome to the third episode of the second series of F1 Circuits Past and Present, the latest mini series from Sidepodcast that takes a closer look at race tracks hosting Formula One across the years. We’ve looked at a current track and one that used to be a fixture, but now we’re focusing on a circuit that’s still in use, if not on the official calendar.

Hello there, this is F1 Circuits Past and Present, a mini series brought to you by Sidepodcast. We’re looking at tracks that have hosted Formula One races at some point in its vast history, and today we’re zooming in on a relatively new one. It’s time to take a closer look at Abu Dhabi.

Hello and welcome to our second look at F1 Circuits Past and Present, a new mini series from Sidepodcast. This set of seven short shows will examine a variety of F1 tracks, from those currently on the calendar, to those that have long since been out of favour. Today’s first episode takes a look at a long-standing circuit that left the fray in 2007.

We’re all looking forward to the new Formula One season and can’t wait to see what excitement it will bring. But for those of you who just can’t wait any longer to see how it’ll play out - you’re in luck! I just so happened to be vacationing to Hill Valley and spotted a time-travelling, flying DeLorean. I know! Weird, right? I may have borrowed it and skipped ahead in time a little to report back on exactly how the 2015 season unfolds.

As the 2015 F1 cars are launched I notice a distinct lack of sponsorship on the cars. This seems to be a continuation of last year’s slim pickings. To quantify the problem I’ve tabulated the sponsorship coverage of all the teams using the three main areas of the car; Airbox, Sidepod, Rear Wing. I have categorised the stickers into 4 types, only one of which is the elusive “Sponsor”.